Paneled steel roof



Sept. 3, 1946.

J. s. swANN PANELED STEEL ROOF Filed July 6, 1945 3 SheetsfSheet '1 INVENTOR. Jam 5. warm `uur l Sept. 3, 1946. J. s. swANN` PANELED STEEL nROOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1945 Sept. 3, 1946. J. s. swANN PANELED STEEL ROOF Filed July 9, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 e l v x Q D Q *l* INVENTOR.

Jame Sz/Jaim,

Patented Sept. 3, 1946 PANELED STEEL ROOF James S. Swann, Homewood, Ill., assi'gnor to Standard Railway Company, Chicago, ware Equipment Manufacturing Ill., a corporation of Dela- Application .uly 9, 1945, Serial No. 603,860

(Cl. S-5.4)l

26 Claims. 1

My invention relates to railway car roofs and more particularly to that type ofI railway car roof which is self-sustaining` and wherein a plu,- rality of metallic roof sheets span from side plate to side plate of the car and are connected thereto and Which preferably have raised panels along their adjacent margins and upstanding nan'ges along their adjacentedges rigidly connected together to form a load sustainingstructure. Each of the roof sheets is pitched or arched `from a central ridge portion toward the side plates and the metal in the portion on each side o'f the ridge is disposed in upper and lower planes forniing the aforementioned panels.

In a roof sheet for this type of roof the panel is usually formed therein throughout the length of said sheet with the ends of said panels merging into the plane of the sheet approximately at the eaves where the sheet turns downl over the side plates of the car, thereby functioning as beams between the side walls ofthe car. Furthermore, ordinarily the panel is of constant depth and width throughout its length, and the sides of the panels are disposedat an angle as close to a right angle to the' plane of the sheet as practicable, thus giving greater strength to the panel. Obviously such a roof sheet, as a beam, is progressively weaker from either side plate toward the ridge of the roof, being weakest at the ridge, and consequently it is an object of this invention to dispose the metal of said roof sheet in a manner so that said sheet is strengthened at its ridge.

It is the principal object of the invention to dispose the metal of the roof sheets so that said sheets may be formed of very' thin material.

Another object is to form a plurality of panels in each sheet, said panels extending from adjacent opposite ends of the sheet', overlapping each other at the approximate transverse centerA of the sheet, and merging into said sheet between the transverse center of the sheet and the end of an adjacent panel, sothat adjacent panels form, in eifect, a beam between opposite ends of said sheet.

y A further object is to space said panels so that the webs of the panels are spaced equal distances apart at the ridge of the roofso as to substan-l tially equally distribute the strength of the sheet along said ridge. Y

Still another object ofthe invention is to form adjacent panels so as to provide a diagonally,

disposed stiiener therebetween to resist weaving of the car.4 Obviously `these stifteners may be alternately disposed if desired.

Further objects and' advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of my application, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a car roof embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, somewhat enlarged.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a planview of a portion of a car roof showing a modied forrn of the invention.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a car roof showing another modined form of the invention.

Figure 6` is a plan view of a car roof sheet showing still another modied form of the invention.

Figure 7 is a combined section on line 'l-l of Figure 6' and side elevation thereof.

Figures 8, Sand 10 are cross-sectional views on lines 8-8, 9 9 and |0--I0 of Figure 6.

Figure 11 shows a means of uniting adjacent roof sheets by automatic welding.

In the drawings:

My invention is shown as einbodied in a oar roof comprising metal side plates of substantially Zsshaped cross' section which extend from' end to end of the car and have a portion l disposed horizontally to rest upon and be secured to the tops of the longitudinally spaced vertical side posts (not shown) of the car. From the outer edges of said portion l depends a flange 2 which overlaps the upper outer edge of the side posts, and at the inner edges of said portion I an upstanding flange 3' is provided, it having an inwardly turned reange 4 extending in the plane of the roof ofthe car.`

The' car roof comprises a plurality of roof sheets 5 each preferably having a pair of panels 6 formed therein, said panels extending` from adjacent opposite ends of the sheet, overlapping' each otherV and merging into said sheet between the transverse center of the sheetV and the end of the other panel so that said panels form, in effect, a beam between opposite ends of said sheet.

As will be apparent from Figure 3 these panels are preferably pressedupwardly from the plane of the roof sheets andare of constant depth from the ridge toward the eaves, but as they approach the eaves, the panels decrease in depth on a gracefulV curve to the side plate reilange 4 upon Awhich the roof sheets rest and are curved down thereover and secured to the vertical flange 3V thereof, as by the row of rivets indicated at 1. Each pair of panels, of course, functions as beams and carries any loads imposed thereon to their supporting side plates and, therefore, the side walls or webs 8 of the panels are formed as nearly at a right angle to the plane of the sheets as practicable, thus affording additional strength to the panel as a beam. Since the weakest point of a beam is that area midway between its points of support, it becomes desirable to strengthen that area, if possible. To accomplish that result I have shown the pair of panels in each sheet as being of substantially like scalene triangular form, with the vertices 9 of each pair overlapping so that the longitudinal central area of the sheets between the two vertices 9 has pressed therein four side walls or webs 8 instead of two as in the remainder of the sheet, which remainder, however, is close to the supporting side plates, and thus does not Aneed as much strengthening. As a consequence of this particular formation of the pair of panels in each sheet the central otherwise Weakest portion of the panel is materially strengthened, thereby accomplishing the primary purpose of the invention.

The sides of the roof sheets are formed with upwardly turned flanges I8 which abut, and adjacent sheets are held together by a seam cap I I overlapping adjacentA flanges and all secured together by a row of rivets, indicated at I2, as is common in this type of roof.

It will be noted in Figure 1 that the roof sheets are disposed diagonallyacross the car from side plate to side plate thereof, which, when the car is moving will tend to deflect water thereon along the seam caps and 01T the car rather than tend to drive the water under the seam caps as might be the case when the roof sheets are disposed at right angles to the car sides. Also disposing said seam caps diagonally will provide a gusset action and thereby increase the strength of the roof.

The side walls or webs 8 of the panels are preferably formed substantially parallel with a line 21 drawn between opposite ends 28 of adjacent seam caps, thus in cooperation with the space 29 between the panels at the ridge forming a diagonal stiifener between the ends 28 of the seam caps. Furthermore, the space 26 between said panels and seam caps form, in effect, depressed panels further cooperating with the raised panels and seams to provide a strong roof structure.

The running board I3 is supported in any acceptable manner, as by the brackets I4 secured to the seam caps by the rivets I2.

In the modification shown in Figure 4 the roof sheets 20 are disposed at right angles to the sides of the car and the panels 2| formed therein are of substantially like form and functioning to the panels 6 previously described.

However, in the modification shown in Figure the overlapping panels 25 are of constant width but yet overlap at the longitudinal center of the car, thereby strengthening the ridge area of the roof.

4In the modification shown in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive the roof sheet is shown-at 35, having the spaced substantially triangular panels 36 formed therein, leaving a diagonal stiffener 31 therebetwen which extends, in effect, diagonally from end to end of the sheet. The base 42 of each triangular panel occurs adjacent one end of the sheet and each panel extends across the sion 31 between the panels 36 extends from end to end of the panels between the adjacent diagonal and parallel webs 40 thereof, and also it will be noted that the outer webs 4I of a pair of adjacent panels in this modification are parallel with the sides 46 of the sheet and with each other. Thus each triangular panel extends from adjacent one end of the sheet substantially but not entirely across the sheet. The panels 36 and stilener 31 therebetween have been designed so that transversely across the sheet at the center they are of equal width, and furthermore the spaces 38 between the outer webs 4I of the panels and the adjacent upstanding flanges 39 at the sides of the sheet are equal in width to the width of the panels 36 at the center of the sheet, as clearly shown in Figure 8. The meeting margins 41 of adjacent sheets are preferably secured together (by use of a separate element, as shown in Figure 2, or by forming the sheets, as shown in Figure 8) to form a stifrener or carline between opposite ends of the sheet, or in other words, between the opposite side plates or side walls of the car. By this arrangement the webs of the panels and the stifeners are equally spaced apart along the ridge or longitudinal center 43 of the roof so that the strength of the several panels (that is the roof) is equally distributed throughout the length of the car.

Figure 11 shows means for joining two adjacent sheets together by automatic welding equipment,

and includes a channel-shaped back-up strip 48 extending substantially from end to end of the roof sheets and supporting the slightly spaced adjacent edges of the roof sheets which are welded together and to the back-up strip simultaneously, as at 4.9. The back-up strip also prevents welding material from passing through into the insulation of the roof.

As shown clearly in Figure 3 in all modifications herein the beams formed by the pairs of panels extend to the opposite ends of the roof sheet at which place the roof sheets and the beams are supported by the side plates which.

form a part of the side walls of the car.

This application is a continuation in part of my pending application for patent Serial No. 567,482,

filed December 9, 1944.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and detogether at their sides, a plurality of panelsv pressed from the plane of each sheet, said panels extending from adjacent opposite ends of the sheet, overlapping each other and terminating in said sheet between the transverse center thereof and the end of an adjacent panel, whcrebyrsaid overlapping portions of said panels strengthens the longitudinal central portion of said' roof.

annesse 1 2.` A railwaycar roof comprising roofsheets disposed cross-wise of the carlandjoinedtogether. at their side: edges, aplurality of raised panels formed in eachsheet, saidpanels extending from adjacent oppositeends` of the sheet, overlapping each other and terminating in said sheet betweenl the transverse centerthereof and the end of an adjacent panel, wherebysaid-overlapping portions of said panels strengthens the longitudinal central portion of saidroof. y

3. A railway car roof sheet having a pair of panels yformed therein, said .panelsiextendingfrom. adjacent opposite ends. of the sheet, overlapping each other andl merging into saidssheet vbetween the transverse center of the sheet and the end of the other panel, whereby said overlapping portions of said panels strengthens the transverse central portion otsaid sheet.

tl. A railway car roof sheet having `a pair foi panels formed therein, said panels extending from adjacent opposite` ends of the sheet, overlappingV eachother and merging into saidlsheet between the transverse center ofthe sheet and the end' of the other panel, the adjacent sides of said panels being-substantially parallel with a line substantially between diagonally opposite corners ofl the sheet, whereby said` overlapping portions of said panels strengthens the transverse central portion of said sheet and said adjacent sides of said panels forrnfa diagonal stiiener between said corners; l

5. A railway car roof sheet having a `pair of panels formedtherein, said panels extending from adjacent opposite endsof the sheet andtermi-nating within thesheetbetween the transverse center thereof and the other ends of said panels, respectively, adjacent panelsoverlapping each other suiiiciently to develop the bending moment requirement of the two'panels so as to form in effect a single beam between opposite ends of said sheet when appliedto the car Walls and so that said beam is provided with two substantially vertical webs adjacent the ends of said beam and four substantially vertical webs adjacent the middle thereof. Y

6. A roof for a railwaycar, said roof comprising metal roof sheets disposed cross-'wise of the car and joined together at their side edges, a plurality of panels formed therein extending from adjacent opposite sides `of said roof and terminating within the sheets between the longitudinal center of the roof and the ends of adjacent panels, respectively, adjacent panels overlapping each other suciently to develop the bending moment requirement of said panels so as to provide in eiect a plurality of beams when applied to the car walls between opposite sides of said roof, whereby said beams are provided with substantially twice'as many vertical webs adjacent the longitudinal center of the roof as are provided adjacent the sides of said roof.

7. A railway car roof comprising metal roof sheets disposed cross-wise of the car having their side edges formed and joined together to provide stiffeners extending between opposite sides of said roof, some of said sheets provided with a pair of panels extending from opposite .ends of the sheet, overlapping each other and merging into said sheets between the longitudinal center of the roof and the end of anadjacent panel, the adjacent sides of a pair of panels being substantially parallel with a line between opposite ends of adjacent stiffeners, whereby said adjacent sides of said panels form a diagonal stiffener between said-opposite ends of said rst mentioned stiferiers.

.i 85. A railway car roof comprising metal roof Vslieetsudisposed cross-wise of the car having their side edges formed and joined together to provide stiifeners extending diagonally between opposite sides of said roof, some of said sheets provided with a pair of panels extending from opposite ends of the sheet, overlapping each other and mergingI into said sheets between the longitudinal centerV of-'the roof and the end of an adjacent panel, the adjacent sides of a pair of panels being substantially parallel with the shortestV of the car having their side edges Aformed and joined together to provide 'stiffeners extending diagonally between opposite sides of said roof, someof saidsheets provided with a pair of panels extending from opposite ends of the sheet, overlapping each other and merging into saidrsheets between the longitudinal center of the roof and the other end of said sheet, whereby the end' seams` and end sheets provide a gusset actionand increase'the strength of said roof.

10. A railway car `roof sheet having a pair of panels formed therein, said panels extending from adjacent opposite ends of the sheet overlapping each other and terminating within the sheet be tween' the transverse center thereof and the other end of the other panel. i

11. A Vroof for a railway car, said roof comprising `metal roof sheets joined together to form a unitary roof structure, a plurality oi panels formed therein, said panels extending from adjacent opposite sides of the `roof with adjacent panels overlapping each other and terminating within the roof between the longitudinal center thereof Vand the other ends of adjacent panels.

12. A `railway car roof sheet having aV pair of substantially triangular panels formed therein, the bases of said triangular panels located adjacent opposite ends of the sheet, said panels overlapping each other and merging` into said sheet between the transverse center of the sheet and the other end of the other panel.

i 13. Astructure as defined in claim l2 wherein the outer Webs of said panels are substantially parallel with each other and with the sides of the sheet.

14. A roof for a railway car, said roof comprising metal roof sheets joined together to form a unitary roof structure having a plurality of lsubstantially triangular panels formed therein,

the bases of said triangular panels locaied adjacent opposite sides of the roof, said panels overlapping each other and merging into said roof between the longitudinal center of the roof and the other end of an adjacent panel.

l5. A structure as dened in claim 14 wherein the margins of adjacent sheets are formed so that when joined they provide stiileners extending between opposite sides of the roof, and wherein the distances between the stiieners and adjacent webs of the panels, the distances between the webs of each panel, and the distance between the webs of adjacent panels are substantially equal at the longitudinal center of the roof.

16. A railway car roof sheet having a plurality of substantially triangular panels formed therein, the bases of said triangular panels located adjacent opposite ends of the' sheet,;said panels overlapping each other and merging into said sheet between the transverse center of the sheet and the other end of the sheet, thewebs of said panels being spaced substantially equidistant apart at the transverse center of the sheet.

17. A roof for a railway car having spaced apart walls, said roof comprising metal roof sheets joined together to form a'unitary roof structure and adapted to` extend between said walls, a plurality of pairs of panels formed in said roof, the outer webs of each pair of panels being normal to the ends of said sheets and the adjacent webs of each pair of panels being'diagonally disposed relative to the ends of said sheets, said panels extending alternately from adjacent opposite sides of said roof, overlapping each other sufficiently to develop the bending moment requirement of adjacent panels as a single beam and merging into'said sheets between the' longitudinal center of the roof and the other side of the roof, whereby said panels form in eiect a plurality of beams between said walls when the roof is applied to a car and said diagonally disposed webs form diagonal braces between said walls when the roof is applied to a car.

18. A railway car roof comprising metal roof sheets disposed cross-wise of the car having their side edges formed and joined together to provide stiffeners extending between opposite sides of the roof, said sheets provided with a plurality of substantially triangular panels extending from opposite ends of the sheets, overlapping each other and merging into said sheets between the longitudinal center of the roof and the other end of said sheets, the distances between each stifener and the adjacent web of a panel being substantially the same as the distances between the webs of the panels. j

19. A roof for a railway car, said roof comprising metal roof sheets joined together to form a unitary roof structure having a plurality of substantially triangular panels formed therein, the bases of said triangular panels located adjacent opposite sides of the roof, said panels overlapping each other sumciently'to develop the bending moment requirement of the two panels so as to form, in effect, a single bea-m between the opposite sides of the roof, and the spaces between adjacent panels forming diagonal stiffeners between the sides of the roof.

20. A railway car roof sheet having a pair o! substantially triangular panels formed therein, the bases of said triangular panels located adjacent opposite ends of the sheet, said panels overlapping each other sufficiently to develop the bending moment requirement of the two panels so as to form, in effect. a single beam between the opposite ends of the sheet, and the space between the panels forming a diagonal stiffener between the ends of the sheet.

21. A railway car roof sheet substantially as dened in claim 20 wherein the width of the panels and the width of the stiffener are substantially equal at the transverse center of the sheet. Y

22. A railway car roof sheet, substantially as dened in claim 20, wherein the Width of the panels and the width of the stiffener and the distance between each edge of the sheet and the adjacent panel are substantially equal at the transverse center of the sheet.

23. A structure as defined in claim 18 wherein said panels are of equal width to each other at the longitudinal center of the roof.

24. A structure as dened in claim 18 wherein said panels are of equal width to each other and to the distance between the webs of the panels at the longitudinal center of the roof.

25. An assembly for a railway -car roof comprising a plurality of sheets joined together, a plurality of substantially triangular panels formed therein, said panels extending from opposite ends of the sheets, with adjacent panels overlapping each other sulciently to develop the bending moment requirement of said adjacent panels so as to form, in eiect, beams between opposite ends of the sheets, said panels terminating within the sheets between the transverse center thereof and the other ends of the sheets.

26. A metallic sheet having a pair of substantially triangular panels formed therein, the bases of said triangular panels located adjacent opposite ends of the sheet, said panels overlapping each other sufficiently to develop the bend-y ing moment requirement of the two panels so as to form, in effect, a single beam between the opposite ends of the sheet, and the space between the panels forming a stiffener between the ends of the sheet.

JAMES S. SWANN. 

